A/HRC/19/7
creation of the Fund for Life of Children and programmes for the treatment of noncommunicable diseases, cancer and antiretroviral drugs. It made recommendations.
43.
United Kingdom welcomed the Government’s ongoing review of the death penalty.
It hoped that the adoption of a multitiered classification for murder would hand presiding
judges the power to make a decision on sentencing, and preclude the mandatory imposition
of the death penalty. It recognized the work undertaken to address discrimination against
women. It asked when existing legislation on sexual harassment and violence against
women would be implemented and when specialized rape and sexual offences units would
become operational within police stations. It noted that measures concerning a State of
Emergency should be fully justified and used only in exceptional circumstances. It made
recommendations.
44.
France noted that Trinidad and Tobago was party to a number of international and
regional human rights instruments and that its Constitution recognized fundamental rights
and freedoms. It noted that, even if the last execution in the country was in 1999, the death
penalty was still in force. It welcomed the establishment of an independent and impartial
entity to deal with police complaint, noting however its mandate remained undefined.
France also noted that certain provisions of the Criminal Code criminalized sexual relations
between consenting adults of the same sex. It made recommendations.
45.
Slovenia commended the Government for the establishment of the national steering
committee for the prevention and elimination of child labour and encouraged it to continue
its efforts on this field. Slovenia noted that it was not a party of some core universal human
rights treaties, such as the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Second Optional Protocol to the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and some others. Slovenia regretted that the
Government had decided to withdraw from the First Optional Protocol to the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It made recommendations.
46.
Nicaragua noted the progress of Trinidad and Tobago in the construction of a solid
legislative and institutional framework. It noted that, despite the current global economic
and financial crisis, Trinidad and Tobago had kept its priorities and congratulated it for its
social programmes. It highlighted health and education programmes and financial
assistance to the most vulnerable. It also highlighted the country’s achievements in security
for citizens through weapons control, fight against drug trafficking, terrorism and human
trafficking. It made recommendations.
47.
Australia welcomed the Government’s commitment to better protecting the rights of
women, children, the elderly and the disabled, and advancing the economic and social
rights of its citizens. Australia continued to be concerned by reports of excessive use of
police force and by reports on the treatment of detainees. Australia encouraged Trinidad
and Tobago to thoroughly investigate claims by members of the public of extrajudicial
killings by police and urged it to make the findings of those investigations public. It urged
Trinidad and Tobago to establish a moratorium on the death penalty as an interim measure
towards full abolition. It made recommendations.
48.
Canada commended the establishment of the Victim Support Units within the Police
Service, but raised its concern over the issue of violence against women and children. It
regretted that death sentences continued to be handed down by courts and was concerned
by the bill aimed at reforming the Constitution regarding the death penalty. It was also
concerned about reports of problems related to the police force and the persistence of
discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It made recommendations.
49.
New Zealand noted that successive Governments had repudiated the use of torture
and acknowledged the need to make improvements in prison conditions. It also noted that
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